Thursday, March 24, 2016

London’s Denmark Street is considered to be the spiritual home of British popular music. Nicknamed “Tin Pan Alley,” musicians like the Rolling Stones, Elton John, and David Bowie lived, wrote, and recorded some of their most famous songs there. Forty+ years ago the Sex Pistols’ Johnny Rotten drew graffiti on two buildings on the street. Now, because of his doodling, the buildings have been granted historic protection by the United Kingdom’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

Self portrait by Johnny RottenJohn Schofield, University of York/Historic England

Johnny Rotten's caricature of Nancy Spungeon who would be murdered by herboyfriend, Sid ViciousJohn Schofield, University of York/Historic England

7 Denmark St, home of the Sex Pistols in the 70sJohn Schofield, University of York/Historic England